Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-05

escaping from the New Hampshire state
prison. The Boston Globe gives the
following particulars: He was n good
looking, stylish man OF dignified APP
pearance, looking for all the world in
his ordinary clothes, with his English
side whiskcrs, like what he pretended
TO be, wealthy New York banker.
The cell in which he was confined
was one of the strongest and most CEN
trail in the prison, was built Of rock.
and two locks of the latest improved
pottern were on the cell door. The key,
when he was in his cell, never passed
out of the hands of Warden Mayo or
Deputy Warden Davis. If any attempt
was made by him to escape it was eX-
pectcd to be in the cell. but for over
nine months he made no move or sign
but that he expected to serve his sem
tence. But the easy going. apparently
contented man was all this time making
his preparations toleave. and on Decem-
Der 3. 1866, he did, and New Hampshire
has missed him ever since.
The state prison in those days was sur
rounded by big heavy stone wall. with
an enormous plank gate. Over the gate,
in the daytime, the guar1 stood, gun in
hand. Shinburn, who u week or so be-
fore this time had purposely cut his
finger badly, had been allowed the lib
critics of the yard, as was the custom in
those days. Confcderates on the out
side had bored nearly through the
three-inch plank. with holes running
into each other for space eighteen
inches wide and twenty-five inches
long. The holes made had been filled
up with plaster of paris. The heavy,
thick plank hung by merely the thin
leaf on the inside.
A al, al rf 1,n 1l
the men had to take their night buckets
from in front of their cell door. and in
single file. in lockstep with the left
hand on the convict's shoulder prcced-
ing. they had come out, had emptied
their buckets at the further end, and
we're returning.
Now Shinburn passed the word down
the long line. ''Do as. | do But they
did not understand him. He could not
tell them before for fear Of the ''snitch-
ers, as those who blowcd to the war
den were called. Suddenly as they
were turning corner, Shinburn threw
his empty bucket with all his force at
the guard. 1t landed short, though.
across the yard toward building.
Meantime the line had closed up as
though nothing had happened, and the
guard not daring to leave the whole
line of men to capture one man marched
them along. Shinburn rapidly made
for the heavy wooden gate. 1t was
closed and over it the guard marched.
AS Shinburn came along the guard hal
loed for him to stop. No heed
was paid, but Shinburn dashed on un-
harmed. He reached the gate and dove
at it with his left shoulder. The pre-
pared place fell out, leaving an ample
I. snh Ia h,r,s, nS
quickly on the outside. The alarm that
| a prisoner had escaped was ringing
| through the yard and action must be
| quick. For some little time close car
| riage with fine looking horse had been
standing at the sidewalk in front of Mr..
| Pillsbury's elegant residence. Next to
| the prison was garden and across this
| Shinburn fled like deer. The carriage
started at the same time. They met;
the man in the carriage sharply turned
without stopping, Shinburn jumped in
| and they were off like the wind. He
turned in the carriage and moved his
hand in II victorious goodby at the al
most dumbfounded guard. 1t was New
Hampshire most celebrated bank rob-
bers goodby to the prison forever.
One thousand dollars reward was i'm
mcdiately offered, as Shinburn was the
most important convict they held, but il
has been unclaimed to this day. Fo,
weeks the surrounding country was
searched. but he could not have more
effectively disappeared if he hat
dropped through to China. But it ap
pears that while the horse was dashins
at the top of his speed down the streets
of Concord, Shinburn was rapidly eX
changing his convict's stripes for a wild
ow's weeds. Once out in the cOuntr,
and the change was completed. AT ;
little wayside station Mr.. and Mrs
Merritt took the train for Concord
Mrs. Merritt was in deep mourning
with heavy veil over her face, 70
her only son. They put up at on
of the leading hotels in Concord, AM
the following morning, after quie
night in the hotel, left for. Boston. N
one thought of connecting them witt
the escape of Shinburn from the stat
prison, over which Concord at that nc
ment was astonished and her men hunt
ing all the country round. But undo
that deep mourning veil of the aristrc
cratic looking woman there was tn
face of Mark Shinburn, the most DARN
bank robbcr and prison breaker in Ne'
Hampshire. The husband was the con
federate who had waited with the team
The rumor has been for years tina
Shinburn had between $l5 ,OOOand $50 ,OC
in some of the state banks and that tn
state confiscated it. AS far as can b
ascertained the rumor is without fOuI
datiOn.